Ch c26: Down Time

"What do you mean march?" Alanna asked slamming her fist on the ancient oak table. The table groaned probably wondering what it had done to anger the daughter of Kronos. "Demi'se we nearly lost a major battle no a war!"

Yin grabbed her hand calming her as they locked eyes... Something Demi'se only thought two lovers would do. Which brought a new question to mine, which he had forgotten.

"What Alanna is saying is we have allot of wounded most may march but if we're attacked? No theirs no chance we would survive." Yin said calmly still holding Alanna's hand in clear sight. "As of now to give real numbers we have two hundred wounded out of those two hundred we have thirty of them that won't be moving for three months and fifteen who escaped injury all together also we still have teams at the mining plants... But six are dead."

The room was silent as the numbers sunk in.

"Still of all of us here Yin you must know that staying here is not an option." Demi'se said readjusting his bandages which covered half his face.

"We have no where to go..." Alanna said her voice soft.

"If Demi'se won't say it I will." Dante's voice called over the silence as he walked from the shadows his demeanor relaxed. "The second the tower of suns death rose this place became a death sentence. In one month as things go all life will die within twenty miles of here. In a year the tower will crumble and take all it tainted with it strait to Tartarus. Also anything that has been close to the tower and dies will be damned to torture in the underworld... All in agreement to leave sooner than humanly possible?"

"Aye!" the group said at once without hesitation.

"Before we leave for today I... Need to thank you all for stepping up and being Heroes that history may dislike but led us to victory." Demi'se said this looking at all four of his comrades. "Now we have a week and a half before we must march I'll give assignments when needed but Yin has full power to assign or override previous tasks. Though for today let's take it easy."

"Deal." Yin said as he and the others stood. As little as it may be this was Demi'se's way of giving him a bigger role than two lines before breakfast. Yin made it two steps out of the secret room when Alanna pulled him off course deep into the Library. "You okay?"

"Shhh!" Alanna said speeding up then coming to a stop when they were well hidden. "I needed a break."

"Dante..." Demi'se called from across the room.

"Yes?" Dante answered taking a seat across from the son of Hyperion.

"You know Yin... Well yes?" Demi'se asked slowly.

"He's not gay and yes he's dating Alanna... Oh and he saved this place when you went all once a month crazy." Dante said with a poker face.

"Well that clears things up..." Demi'se said scratching the back of his head. "And I'll forget that last part."

"Don't that would be a mistake..." Dante yawned. "Our greatest learning experiences come from our greatest beatings. And when do I get one of these chairs?"

"Are you just really smart or do you have a problem with me?" Demi'se asked deciding to open up.

"If MENSA had a scale I'd be the reject cousin and as far as you go I'm still on the fence." Dante said leaning back in his new favorite chair. "But Yin and the others have your back so as far as evil goes you can't be that bad."

"Yes but remember we are the bar guys." Demi'se laughed at the irony.

"Are you so sure Demi'se? If good is moral than being cold and vain to me one of their own or even you a child of a Titan. Are we really the bad guys for fighting for what we love and wish to protect or reclaim?"

"Now the axis is shifted and the universe ends." Demi'se chuckled happy to find a intellectual sparring partner.

"Or we rise to favor among rome?" The mood changed in a flash at Dante's words. "the Spear of Fire has something to do with why we're marching... Am I correct?"

"Have you ever been incorrect?" Demi'se asked as a icy cold fell in the room. Dante's eyes danced with memories. "Well?"

"Yes... Only twice... Regrettably." Dante said the chill leaving the room as he became lost in logic.

"Story time?" Demi'se sighed closing his eyes feeling Sleepy.

"The stories aren't mine to share... Oh and resist the erg to sleep its actually a sign I've been here to long... You'll most likely die." Dante said stretching as Demi'se snapped to full awareness noticing his pulse was almost dead still (but picking up:)

"Whose is it to tell then?" Demi'se asked.

"Yin's... Now I'm needed elsewhere so do well to tend to your wounds..." Dante took a gulp of air. "Oh yes to look your path over carefully this 'Safe Haven' is a most hard place to find."

"This is true and I've memorized the path." Demi'se said narrowing his non-bandaged eye. "Aren't you needed Elsewhere?"

"Yes well good bye for the time being Demi'se." Dante said rising up pushing his chair in and leaving the room.

"Yin has secrets?" Demi'se chuckled always thinking of Yin as an Open book. Just one more misconception on Demi'se's end.